Chris Todd / Special to The Meridian StarMiss Greenville Macken'z Smith, of Philadelphia, competes in swimwear on Wednesday, the first night of preliminary competition in the Miss Mississippi Pageant at the Vicksburg Convention Center.

Contestants in the Miss Mississippi Pageant began their preliminary competitions Wednesday night at the Vicksburg Convention Center in Vicksburg. Preliminaries continue at 7 p.m. each night through Friday, with finals scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday.